Steam-trap.



rim-639,869. Patented nec. 3|, 190|.

A E. H. GoLn.

STEAM TRAP.

(Application led Feb, 1, IQAOO),

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-*Sh'ae't I.

mi@ 6;@ gf/M -i/ A f @M64 E. H. eoLn. sTAm TRAP. lApplicaton led Feb. 1, 1900.)

Pgt'ented Dec. 3|, I90l.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

. (no Modem mi w 'W-E-ETES Y thereto embodying my invention.

UNrTED STATES PATENT Enron.

-. EGBERT II. GOLD, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

f STEAM-TRAP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 689,869, dated December 31, 1901.

' Application filed February 1,1900. Serial No. 3.608. (No model.)

T0 all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, EGBERT H. GOLD, a citi'- zen of the United States, residing at No. 5931 Indiana avenue, Chicago, vinthe county of Cook and State of Illinois, have inventedv certain new and useful Improvements in Steam- Traps,of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in steam-traps designed for use in connection With the steam-heating systems upon railwaycars to automatically control the discharge of Water of condensation from the steam-pipes, but relates more particularly to that class of traps, comprising expansion devices for operating the valve controlling the discharge-port of the steam-pipe, Which-areV located outside of the car-body exposed to the elements and are generally known as horizontal traps. Such traps as heretofore constructed have proved objectionable in practice because of their lack of sensitivene'ss and their sluggish action, resulting from the contact of the Water of condensation with the expansion device during its passage through the trap, Which frequently results in freezing of the Water of the connecting Another object is to isolate the expansion.

device fromthe valve operated thereby and the port controlled by saidl valve,whereby the Water of condensation may be discharged from the trap after passing the valve, but

. Without coming in contact With the expansion device.

These and such other objects as may hereinafter appear are attained by the devices illustrated in the drawings, in Which- Figuvre l is a perspective vieW of the floor of a car, showing'a steam-heating system of the Gold type with a steam-trap applied Fig.A 2 is an enlarged central 'longitudinal section through the trap; and Fig." 3 is a transverse vertical section thereof, taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. I, A indicates the train-pipe bringing in the live steam; B, branches leading therefrom to the heaters C of any desired construction; D, the exhaust-pipes leading from each heater to a drop-pipe E, on the end of which is secured the steam-trap F, in which resides my presentv invention, the steam-trap being designed to control the discharge of the Water of condensation from the steam-pipes on each car as rapidly as the same accumulates.

It will be observed that the steam-trap F and the drop E are necessarily located below and outside of the heated space of the car,

are both at all times exposed to the atmosphere, and are so placed that there is a constant accumulation therein of the Water of condensation, which iiows by gravity thereto, and in cold Weather it is necessary to discharge this Water of condensation at frequent intervals in order to prevent the freezing up of the heating system and the consequent injurious results flowing therefrom. This I accomplish by my steam-trap.

I-Ieretofore in all forms of steam-traps With which I am familiar the water of condensation is brought in contact With and must flow past, through, or over the expansion device during its discharge through the trap to the atmosphere. The result of such action is that as soon as the Water commences to iiow the expansion device is immediately affected and 'commences to close'the valvecontrolling the discharge-port from the steam-pipe in Which the water of condensation is contained, thus throttling the discharge almost as soon as it commences and frequently closing the valve before all of the Water of condensation has.

escaped. In other instances the effect of the water of condensation on the expansion device is such as to render its action very sluggish and uncertain, although it commences to act as soon as the Water of condensation Astrikes it; but it frequently failsltoien'tirely close the valve, because the heatofthe Water of condensation and the temperature of the outside atmosphere keep the expansion device practically on a balance, land thus cause thevalve to remain slightlylopen,permitting' IOO pansion-chamber I, contained in said casing, the casing being connected by a pipe J of suitable length with the Valve-casing K, containing the valve-chamber L, in which is located the valve M, controlling the discharge-port N from the steam-pipe or drop E, said valve being connected by a stem or rod O with the expansion device. The expansion device is in the form of a flat double-walled diaphragm containing an expansive uid readily responsive to the eifects of heat and cold and is confined between an adjustable screw P, threaded through the cap Q of the casing G, and the end of the valve-rod O, upon which I preferably mount a guide-ring R, supported upon arms extending from a central hub fastened to the valve-rod.

It will of course be understood that the position of the expansion device in the expansion-chamber is so adjusted that when there is no steam on the valve M is always open. It Will also be understood that the pipe-section J may be dispensed with, and the casings G and K may be formed in a single casing with a suitable connecting-passage taking the place of that formed by the pipe J.

In the lower side of the casing K adjacent to the seat of the valve M, Which latter is guided upon ribs S, formed on the interior of the casing, is formed a discharge-opening T, through which the Water of condensation is discharged to the atmosphere as soon as it has passed the Valve M and entered the casing K, which thus eiectually prevents the passage of the water of condensation into the expansion-chamber, where it Would come in contact with the expansion device. Of course to make certain of this result care must be taken to have the expansion-chamber located a suiicient distance from the valve-chamber to prevent the water being forced through the valve-chamber and passage connecting the saine with the expansion-chamber. The expansion-chamber is provided With two or more outlets U, through which the steam-vapor, both before and after condensation, may escape.

In practice I protect the discharge-port N with a strainer V of usual form preferably projecting into the chamber of an ordinary blow-off valve YV, attached, respectively, to the trap-casing and the drop-pipe, said valve being provided at the lower side thereof with a discharge-opening X, leading to the atmosphere, so that it may be used as a blow-off valve in the ordinary manner, this blow-off valve and the strainer forming no part of my present invention.

By isolating the expansion device from th valve controlling the discharge-port from the steam-pipe and providing an outlet for the Water of condensation between the valve and the expansion device such Water will be free to promptly escape from the trap Without entering the expansion-chamber or coming in contact with the expansion device, while as soon as the steam-vapor begins to flow it is free to pass by the valve and on into the expansion-chamber,where its heat will instantly aifect the expansion device and cause prompt and almost instantaneous seating of the valve.

To get the best results from a steam-trap, it is plain that the automatic valve thereof should open Wide and remain fully open until all of the Water of condensation has been discharged from the steam-pipe and to then instantly close as soon as the steam begins to escape, and this action cannot be accomplished by any device in which the Water of condensation comes in contact with the expansion device during its passage through the trap, but is most eifectually accomplished by my present construction, in which means are afforded for the escape of the water from the trap without entering the expansionchamber. This Valve I have found to be very sensitive and prompt in its operation, remaining open as long as it should do so to permit the complete discharge of the water of condensation and closing quickly and promptly, almost with a snap, as soon as the steam begins to ilow through the trap, thus insuring complete discharge of the water of condensation from the trap and its pipe connections, and thereby avoiding all danger of the freezing up of the steam-pipe, with the attendant dangerand loss of time, money, and the service of the car.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A steam-trap comprising an inlet-port, an expansion device, means for freely admitting steam entering through said inlet-port to immediate contact with said expansion device, an automatic valve operated by said expansion device, and a discharge-opening from the valve-chamber to the atmosphere located between the valve and the expansion device through which the Water of condensation may pass without coming in contact with the expansion device, substantially as described.

2. A steam-trap comprising an expansion device, an automatic valve mounted upon and operated thereby,an expansion-chamber, a valve-chamber, a passage connecting said chambers and separate discharge-ports leading from each of said chambers to the atmos-A IOT) IIO 

